Loch Ness Monster: DNA Tests May Bring Definitive Answer
The mystery of the Loch Ness monster, which annually takes thousands of tourists to Scotland, may be about to be unraveled. In June, a group of scientists from around the world, led by Professor Neil Gemmell - from the University of Otago, New Zealand's oldest - will go to the testing site and find out what lives there.
Named Loch Ness Hunters (“ Loch Ness Hunters ”), the expedition will use a relatively new technique, called environmental DNA sampling or eDNA, to identify living things that inhabit the place without “bothering” them. them, ”say so. That is, the tests will be performed on lake water samples.
“Whenever a creature moves in its environment, it leaves behind small fragments of DNA, skin, scales, feathers, feces and urine. This code can be captured, sequenced and then used to identify it by comparing the result to large databases of known genetic sequences from 100, 000 different organisms, ”Gemmel said in a statement from the University of Otago.
That's how scientists found that the Pacific waters are home to six other shark species, besides those they already knew inhabited the region.
For Gemmel, the biggest expectation is to identify new species inhabiting the deep, hard-to-see waters of the lake - beings - from bacteria to larger animals - that have never been studied. However, it is the promise to get an answer to the monster's mystery from the 6th century that makes it all the more interesting.
Were the various accounts of people who would have witnessed appearances of “Nessie” fake, as well as the photos and videos circulating around there? Was it an exaggeration, and is the creature actually a large individual of a known species? Or does any unknown marine entity really live there?
This is not the first time researchers have been dedicated to finding answers to these questions. In 2003, BBC channel experts who mapped the lake fauna found nothing. However, in 2007, a lab technician filmed a mysterious animal moving rapidly into the water. We hope that the technology and knowledge gained from years of DNA studies will shed light on the issue.